This past year has been a wild ride for Philly rockers Thorazine, who re-emerged onto the hardcore scene after a decade-long hiatus. Like any rebirth, there was lots of kicking and screaming—the best kind. A new rehearsal space introduced the band to a great space where they could road test new material and put a bright shine on their classics. And new bassist Dan Hoover (or just “h00v3r) continued to bring his inventive high-energy style to the band. Rogan and guitarist Elliot Taylor’s two sons were often on hand for weekend rehearsals—because why have the coolest parents ever if you can’t be part of the legend!

Lead vocalist Jo-Ann Rogan and Drummer Dallas Cantland were honored to be contributors to Loud! Fast! Philly! (an aural history of the Philadelphia Hardcore Scene). Rogan’s interview for that piece got the band some extra traction with an appearance in MAXIMUMROCKNROLL, where Thorazine was showcased for the first time since the ‘90s. In May 2015, The Runout featured a great interview with Rogan titled “The Rebirth of Thorazine,” where she talks about the band’s re-emergence, the challenges of being a mom in a touring punk band, and the band’s upcoming West Coat Tour (more on those show dates below!).
Thorazine brought their energy back to the studio to record 4 new songs (Boys, Never Gonna Be Alright, Stumble and Fall, and The End). Never Gonna Be Alright appears on Punk Aid 4: Autism Speaking—an international punk compilation on Evacuate Records—with proceeds going to the Autism Science Foundation, promoting continued research into the causes and treatment of autism. The compilation, featuring top punk acts from across the globe, will be released in late 2015.

A sampling of the band’s tracks from the 90s to the present—Stumble and Fall, Unabomber Love, Ignorant, Trophy Girl, and On the Outside—can be heard and downloaded online at Reverbnation. Stumble and Fall, along with Thorazine’s entire back catalog, is available on iTunes. Stay plugged in—a new Thorazine video is planned for late 2015!
Gigging around Philly, Thorazine has appeared at The Fire, North Star Bar, and at Tobacco Avenue in Lancaster, PA. The band kept busy this spring with New York appearances at The Grand Victory in Brooklyn and at Bowery Electric in Manhattan, and kicked off Summer 2015 at the Punk Island festival on June 21st in Staten Island, all of which were huge successes!
Thorazine gets back in the van this summer for an exciting 10-day tour of the West Coast from L.A. to Canada! If you’re near any of these venues, be sure to check them out!AUGUST 2015 WEST COAST TOUR

Way back in the 90s, Dionysus Records had a marvelous Philly punk group on its’ Hell Yeah label called Thorazine. We did two LPs and two 7″ with them, and even with the miles between Thorazine and the label – due to their constant touring and a couple of visits to Philly by Dionysus staff, the group, myself and everyone else at label got to spend quite a bit of time together. Those were memorable times for all of us!

Thorazine were more than a band, they were a family. In the 90’s they lived together in a big old house in West Philly rehearsing and writing songs in the basement. Then they toured as much as possible. As families do at times, the band parted ways and moved on with life although all the band members have remained in Philadelphia. In 2013 Heather Gillespie decided to make a documentary about the Dead Squirrel Wedding featured on Thorazine’s first album on Hell Yeah Records titled, Crazy Uncle Paul’s Dead Squirrel Wedding. Her project reunited the band for the first time in a decade. After their reunion was filmed as part of the documentary, the band was surprised to find that they were still finishing each others sentences after so much time apart. Slowly they were all in contact with each other regularly and they decided to get together to see if it would still be fun to play together. It was magical like back in the day and quickly they had a show booked. The show on May 3rd in Philadelphia is about to sell out six weeks before the show. The band is beyond excited to be back together rehearsing weekly. They are so humbled that so many people are enthusiastic to see them hit the stage again. Who knows what adventures this reunion will bring the band next. Only time will tell, stay tuned.